We’ve had a number of discussions recently about when to keep a car in as-found condition versus when to restore it, and this 1950 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe for sale on Hemmings.com illustrates a sort of in-between approach of leaving the major aspects of the car – paint, upholstery, the engine – untouched while repairing or replacing the ancillary items that need attention, resulting in a largely original car that’s still driveable. From the seller’s description:

This car was owned by one family until I bought it last year! Grandfather bought it new. He reportedly never drove the car over 45 miles an hour. He gave the car to his son who painted it and re-upholstered it around 1979. Due to health reasons he parked the car around that time and there it sat until HIS son sold it to me. The car sat in storage for over 30 years!

I brought the car home and gave it the loving care it deserved. It now has new shoes (Wide whites with tubes), new fuel tank, fuel pump, new brake shoes, wheel cylinders, and master cylinder, water pump and the radiator was cleaned out. The valves have been adjusted, and side cover resealed. I also replaced the wiper inserts on the VACUUM operated wipers that still work. The tube radio and clock also work! All the glass and body panels are orignal and rust free! (There is some surface rust under the car. But, it cleans up nicely and all floor pans are solid including trunk.) I have done nothing to the paint except clean and buff it.

Back in the day, many owners packed the rear springs in wheel bearing grease then wrapped them in canvas both to protect the springs and soften the ride. The rear springs on this car are still wrapped!

This car starts and runs very well….and very quiet. No smoke! I was considering painting the engine. But, I really like the original patina of the car. The only modifications I have made is to bump the 6v system to 8v and replace the voltage regulator.

22 Responses to “Hemmings Find of the Day – 1950 Chevrolet Styleline DeLuxe”

Looks like a pretty nice survivor – there were lots of these on the road when I was growing up. I think I would have preferred black tires, but this is a time machine. These 6 banger Chevies had a distinctive whine as they went through the gears. Wonder if it will bring anything close to that kind of money?

My father used to bring us to and pick us up on Saturdays from my grandma’s place. That distinctive ‘whine’ you recall was music to my ears and a lullaby that put me to sleep quite quickly in the back seat on the way back home. God how I loved that car!!

I am this car’s owner. It has an 8v battery. I did that for better starting and adjust the rheostat for the dash lights. It can be changed back to 6v easily and cheaply. (battery and adjust volt regulator)

Yes, many 6 volt car owners put an 8 volt battery in the system then tweak the voltage regulator to allow 8 volts from the generator into the charging system. Brighter lights, faster turning starter are a couple benefits…………….

Hmmm… $17,500 for a fairly undistinguished Chevy seems kinda steep… basically, the guy bought the car for peanuts, then “puffed” it for a quick killing… just like those Russian guys who flip houses by doing a little cosmetic work, and then bumping the price by 50K… btw, NADA average retail on this car is $9,500… so, other than new tires/ fuel pump/brakes (which are normal wear items), what justifies the huge mark-up? Nothing, as far as I can tell.

8volt batteries are common in tractors…6v batteries have 3 caps, 8v have 4, and of course a 12 has 6. Down side is burned out dash lights if not adjusted with rehostat at headlight switch and my experience was blown low beams on the headlights. Voltage regulator needs to be adjusted to somewhere near 9 volts to keep system properly charged. I had an 8v system in my 51 Chevrolet, but eventually went back to 6.

I don’t understand why people feel the need to change their systems over to 8 volt, or even 12 when the 6 volt systems worked fine in their day. What I’m finding with car electrics that aren’t working properly is that the wiring is deteriorating; time to rewire it.

Price may be on the high side. However, that way the car will go to someone who will apreciate it’s orginality and not chop it up, lower it, etc. Personally, I wanted a car to street rod. I had a choice to make…bring back the car to original or street rod it. I couldn’t bring myself to do that to such a nice car. So, I take it to cruise nights and will keep it until it sells to the appreciative buyer. I’m in no hurry to sell it OR make a “quick killing” as someone mentioned earlier.

does anyone know of a website that will show the original upholstery/interior? I want to restore my 50 styline 4-door as original as possible. Thanks. I think mine was a light and dark green combination paint job.

This one will run all day at 60. They put 4:11′s in them to give them more power for hills. Remember the interstate system was just getting started in those days. Two lane hilly roads were the norm.
You can get 3:55′s for these today that will enable them to cruise at 65 with not much effort.